Hello Stowe Running Campers and Parents!

Stowe Running Camp 2026 will be held from Sunday, July 19th to Friday, July 24th 2026! The camp will once again be held on the beautiful campus of Vermont State University at Castleton (formerly Castleton State College). 

To sign up for Stowe 2026, please visit this link: Registration Link.

Please spread the word about this camp to friends and teammates! If anyone has questions, please contact Camp Director Fran Cusick via email at fcusick13@gmail.com.

This Camp Director Fran Cusick here, just wanted to wrap up an amazing week with one final blog post. I am happy to report that Stowe Running Camp this year was a huge success! Not only did we have the most campers in our history (103) we also had an amazing group of counselors and CITs who helped keep everything running smoothly, despite the larger numbers. 

A few thank yous:

Parents/guardians:
Thank you for trusting us. We know sending your kids off to a week of running camp in the middle of Vermont is a bit of a leap of faith, but I’m really glad you all took it. 

CITs
You all did an incredible job and were so attentive and thoughtful. You provided great feedback and also did a really nice job navigating this sometimes confusing role: you all had fun while also making sure that the camp ran smoothly. Thanks so much!

Counselors
Simply an amazing group of people who went above and beyond what I could have expected. Many of the counselors came to Stowe as campers and return each summer to help recreate that same magic. For referenceL 

• Rachel Sessa – Camper 2015–2018, Counselor 2019–present
• Sierra Fisher – Camper 2016–2021, Counselor 2022–present
• Kate Swann – Camper 2019–2021, Counselor 2022–present
• Tyler Sheedy – Camper 2019–2023, Counselor 2024–present
• Vera De Jong – Camper 2021–2024, first year as Counselor
• Makayla Paige – Camper 2017–2021, first year as Counselor
• Jeff Moretti – Counselor since 2018
• Brian Axelrod – Counselor since 2010

You guys are the best! 

Campers
You were an amazing group! You all were fun, curious, interesting and you struck a great balance between knowing how to be goofy and have fun and knowing how to be serious. We had 100 plus people, so I know I didn’t get to talk or interact with everyone as much as I would have liked, but just about every interaction I did have was positive. 

When we were at Lake Bomoseen last Wednesday, a HS teacher who was visiting the lake with his family came up to Vera and asked how the heck we had managed to get a massive group of HS kids to not be on their phone. When he found out we hadn’t, and that you all were just choosing not to be glued to them, he was stunned. That says a lot about your willingness to engage with each other and enjoy the experience. 

I can’t wait to follow your cross-country seasons and hear about all the PRs, team wins, and breakthroughs.

Thank you to everyone who participated in Stowe this year, at any capacity. The VERY tentative dates for 2026 are Sunday, July 19 to Friday, July 24, 2026. In the early fall, I will finalize these and send out information on this page as well as on Instagram and Facebook. Until then, enjoy the waning days of summer and see you on the XC trails this fall.
-Coach Fran Cusick

Hi folks!

Stowe Running Camp is now less than a week away! Everyone signed up should have gotten this info via email, but just in case something slipped through the cracks, I am posting a reminder on our site! 

Payment

Just a reminder that I need to have payment this week! The absolute last day to pay will be Wednesday July 16.

Here is some info on the payment and how to pay your balance: 

• The tuition for the camp is $650. Most of those who have already signed up put down a deposit of $200. 
• The balance is due by Wednesday July 16th and can be paid via PayPal or check (check is preferred)
• Checks
  • Please make checks out to Stowe Running Camp c/o Fran Cusick and mail to:
    • Fran Cusick
    • 6 Littles Brook Court
    • Apartment 140
    • Burlington MA 01803
• PayPal
  • If paying via PayPal, follow these steps:
    • Log in to Pay Pal using the same account you used to pay the initial balance.
    • Go to “Send and Request” at the top of the page.
    • In the box where it says “Send Money” type in stowe.running.camp@gmail.com.
    • Click “Next.”
    • Type in the amount of money you owe and then hit “continue.”

On Tuesday, I will email people who have not paid their balance to let them know. Unfortunately if we don’t receive payment, athletes will not be able to attend the camp, so please take care of this in advance. Also, if you are sending a check, it should be in the mail today so it arrives in time. 

Drop Off/Pickup Times

• The camp will run from Sunday July 20th to Friday July 25th.
  • Drop off time on Sunday will be from 12-2 PM in front of the Adams Hall dormitory (we’ll put up signs to direct you). 
  • Pickup time will be at 12 PM on Friday…we will have a brief closing ceremony at 11 AM followed by some pictures that anyone is welcome to attend!
• The GPS address is: Vermont State University Castleon Campus, 62 Alumni Dr, Castleton, VT 05735. 

Electronic Paperwork

Below are some things to take care of over the next couple weeks: 

FILL OUT TRAINING HISTORY FORM (campers)

This is new this week. Please fill out this form, which has information about your training history over the past several months. This is crucial as we need this info to create running groups that make sense. 

Fill Out Medical Background Form (Parents)

Parents, please fill out this form. 

Sign Behavioral Contract (parents and campers)

Print out this form and sign it at the bottom. Then, take a picture of it and email it to me OR bring it to camp and hand it to me in person. If you prefer to use a site such as Docusign to sign digitally, that is fine. 

Sign Liability Release (parents and campers)

Print out this form and sign it at the bottom. Then, take a picture of it and email it to me OR bring it to camp and hand it to me in person. If you prefer to use a site such as Docusign to sign digitally, that is fine. 

Packing List

Please see this list for ideas about what to pack. Essential items would be two pairs of running shoes, a pillow, sheets/blanket or a sleeping bag, toothbrush/soap/shampoo, towels, plenty of shorts/t-shirts/socks. It gets hot at night so you a fan as well is helpful as well. 

Frequently Asked Questions

See this list for some common questions I’ve gotten. 

Communication

If you’ve sent me an email and I did not get back to you, kindly resend it to me. You can also text me at 339-223-0519. I’ll send one more full group email on Friday just to check in. 

Thanks for reading, let me know if you have any questions!

-Camp Director Fran Cusick

Hello Stowe Running Campers and Parents!

Stowe Running Camp 2025 will be held from Sunday, July 20th to Friday, July 25th 2025! The camp will once again be held on the beautiful campus of Vermont State University at Castleton (formerly Castleton State College). 

To sign up for Stowe 2025, please visit this link: Registration Link.

Please spread the word about this camp to friends and teammates! If anyone has questions, please contact Camp Director Fran Cusick via email at fcusick13@gmail.com.

Hello Everyone!

We are now officially entering into the summer season and that means that Stowe Running Camp 2023 is just around the corner! Once again, the dates for our camp are Sunday July 23rd to Friday July 28th and the camp is at the beautiful facilities of Castleton University. I wanted to go over a few important points and questions for both those who have already signed up and those who are on the fence:

Drop Off/Pickup Times

• The camp will run from Sunday July 23rd to Friday July 28th.
  • Drop off time on Sunday will be from 12-2 on Sunday.
  • Pickup time will be at 12 PM on Friday…we will have a brief closing ceremony at 11 that anyone is welcome to attend!
• Also please note that the camp is held at Castleton University in Castleton, Vermont! It is NOT in Stowe, despite the name. The mystery of why that is the case will only be revealed at camp. 

Tuition and Payments

• The tuition for the camp is $600.
• Most of those who have already signed up put down a deposit of $200. The balance is due by Wednesday July 19th and can be made via PayPal or check.
• Please make checks out to Stowe Running Camp c/o Fran Cusick, email me and I will send address!
• If paying via PayPal, follow these steps:
  • Log in to Pay Pal using the same account you used to pay the initial balance.
  • Go to “Send and Request” at the top of the page.
  • In the box where it says “Send Money” type in stowe.running.camp@gmail.com.
  • Click “Next.”
  • Type in the amount of money you owe and then hit “continue.”
• If you have any questions on what your balance is, please email me and I will let you know!

What to Bring to Camp

• Please see this document for a thorough list of things you will need. 

Registration Deadline

• Sunday July 16th will the absolute last day to sign up…however, I really would prefer if people signed up earlier than that! Late signups can make it very difficult to organize. 
• Our numbers look great right now! With that said, if you have friends or teammates who are thinking about going, please encourage them! I’ve included our promotional flier that you can send out. 

I think that is about what I have. Any questions at all, please shoot me an email and I will be sure to get back to you. See you in July!

-Stowe Running Camp Director Fran Cusick

Hello Stowe Campers!

This is camp director Fran Cusick. We here at Stowe Running Camp are thrilled to announce that Stowe Running Camp 2023 is a full go! Our dates this year are going to be Sunday July 23rd to Friday July 28th. We are back at Castleton University for the third year and are ready to host what is sure to be another amazing session of running, fierce competition, and friendship.

You can register for camp by going to this link: Registration.

As always, Stowe Running Camp relies heavily on word of mouth recruiting. So if you plan on going to Stowe this summer, please tell your friends, your rivals, your neighbors, that kid that you race against all the time and seems like a great teammate and really anyone you think of that might conceivably view spending six days in Vermont at a running camp as a fun time. We will have more information coming soon, check this page as well as our Instagram (@stowe.running.camp) for information. Any specific questions, email me @fcusick13@gmail.com.

Happy running, I hope your 2023 is off to a great start!

-Coach Fran Cusick

Hello Everyone,

Stowe Running Camp 2022 has come and gone, seemingly in the blink of an eye. It was a fantastic week, filled with great runs, intense competition, goofy signing, and great camaraderie. Thank you to each and every camper who attended. I hope you enjoyed your time at Stowe as much as the counselors did!  I also want to thank the counselors and coaches, who brought such great energy and passion to each day of the camp, as well as the staff of Castleton University for hosting us. 

A few final things on Stowe 2022:

• To view photos from this week, please go to this link. If you have any photos you took, please add them or email me at fcusick13@gmail.com. 

• If any camper was not added to the GroupMe, please email me and I will add you. We won’t use that Group often during the school year, but there may be occasional postings, especially as we get close to the spring of 2023. 

• The extremely tentative dates for Stowe Running Camp 2023 are Sunday July 30th to Friday August 4th. I have not confirmed those dates with Castleton University yet, but if available we will be going that week. Please spread the word and mark your calendars for next year!

• We have put together this post-camp packet that summarizes much of what we talked about and did this week. Please view that here.

Thank you again for attending! This truly was a special group. We hope to see many of you back in 2023. Good luck this fall and stay in touch!

-Coach Fran Cusick

Hi Everyone!

For anyone who has not yet signed up for Stowe, please do so as soon as possible! We are putting the t-shirt order in and finalizing room assignments over the next week or so. For those who have already signed up, please read this post with some important information:

Drop Off/Pick-Up Information
-Stowe Running Camp will be held from Sunday, July 31st to Friday August 5th at Castleton University in Castleton Vermont.

-Drop off for camp will be on Sunday between 12-3 PM.

-Pickup will be on Friday August 5th at 12 PM…there will be an awards ceremony at 11 PM on Friday that all parents/guardians/friends are more than welcome to attend.

Forms to Fill Out/Print Out
Please follow the steps below to make sure we have all the information we need from you. 

Step 1: Training History
Campers, please fill out this Form which asks questions about your training over the last several months. Please be honest on this! 

Step 2: Medical Background
Parents/Guardians, please fill out this this form, which asks questions about your son/daughter’s medical background. 

Step 3: Behavioral Contract
Campers, please print out this form and sign it at the bottom. Then, take a picture of it and email it to me OR bring it to camp and hand it to me in person. 

Step 4: Liability
Print out this form and sign it at the bottom. Then, take a picture of it and email it to me OR bring it to camp and hand it to me in person. 

What to Bring to Camp
Please refer to this Document for reference on what to bring to camp. The most often forgotten items are sheets, pillows, and extra running shoes.

Camp Balance
Please make sure to have your balance for camp paid by July 29th! Here are the steps to pay your balance via PayPal

1. Log in to Pay Pal using the same account you used to pay the initial balance.
2. Go to “Send and Request” at the top of the page.
3. In the box where it says “Send Money” type in “stowe.running.camp@gmail.com.
4. Click “Next.”
5. Type in the amount of money you owe and then hit “continue.”

As a reminder, the camp tuition is $600. Most of you put down a $200 deposit, so you would owe $400 via Pay Pal. If you have a question on what your balance is, email me I will respond. Some athletes got a scholarship to attend camp, some have sibling or team discounts, so there is some variance. If you pay more than you owe due to discounts, I will certainly refund you the money!

If you would prefer to pay via check, please email me and I will give instructions.

Covid Policy
For this year, Castleton is requiring that:
-If you have had the first round of vaccines (booster not required) please bring a physical copy or a photograph of your vaccine card.

-If you have NOT had the vaccine, you MUST have a Covid test taken on the check-in date (July 31st). I would recommend that you take this test BEFORE making the commute to Castleton. Please

Thanks for reading, I will send out one more reminder email about 10 days before camp. In the meantime, if you have any questions please email me at fcusick13@gmail.com. I’m very excited about camp!

-Camp Director Fran Cusick

Hi Everyone!

This is Camp Director Fran Cusick, I wanted to share some important information. The camp this year is from Sunday July 31st to Friday August 5th, 2022. We are back at Castleton University which hosted us last year and was an excellent location. 

Please read the information below thoroughly! 

Communication

The summer feels far away right now and it is likely that your plans are not solidified. That being said, it would help the staff tremendously if we had a sense of who was coming to camp and who wasn’t. So please:

1. If you CAN go to Stowe and plan on attending, sign up right now! Here is the link: Stowe Running Camp Registration. There is a $200 deposit and the remainder of the tuition which is due by Wednesday July 27th. If you sign up early and there are extenuating circumstances that prevents you from going (injury, death in family, etc.) then I am happy to discuss a refund. But we really need people to sign up so we can figure out what our budget is going to look like for the year and so we can let Castleton know!

2. If you CANNOT go, please send me an email telling me this. I will likely be sad for a minute but such is life. You don’t need to give an elaborate explanation (though you can if you want!). A simple “Hi Coach Cusick, unfortunately I can’t attend Stowe this year. Thanks for everything and good luck!” will suffice. I promise you it is so much more helpful to hear this sooner rather than later (or not at all)

3. If you are on the fence, I would appreciate an email just letting me know what you are thinking.

Long story short, please get in touch with me ASAP so I can figure out how our numbers are looking! 

Tuition

Tuition this year is $600 for 6 days and 5 nights. I know that on its face this seems like a lot and I can appreciate the challenges of paying for a summer camp. However, almost all of the tuition money goes towards renting the facilities, paying staff, buying t-shirts, and other functions that are essential to to the success of the camp. I wish we could charge less but it really wouldn’t be practical or fair to the counselors to do so.  

There are a few ways to defray the cost:

1. For those in Massachusetts, there is an MSTCA campership that can save you 100 dollars on your tuition(see below). 
2. Sibling Discount: 10% off tuition for all children of the same family
3. Team Discount 1: 5% off tuition for at 5-9 campers of the same team.
4. Team Discount 2: 10% off tuition for 10 or more campers on the same team

So if you are able to convince your siblings and/or your teammates to attend, you can save yourself some money! If you really want to attend the camp but are struggling with  the cost, please reach out to me and we can have a discussion. 

MSTCA Campership

This only applies to those who live in Massachusetts, but the MSTCA is offering $100 camp scholarships! Every person who has filled out this application has gotten the scholarship, so as long as you do it, you will get the money. Here is the link to it: MSTCA Campership. To get the scholarship, you need to write a personal essay and get a letter of recommendation from a coach.

Recruiting

Last year was a ton of fun but we had a large number of graduating seniors in the mix. We really need to add more people in order to make this a great experience for all. To that end, the best way we can grow the camp is by all of you promoting it to your teammates, friends, rivals from other teams, siblings, etc. Every year the surveys that we have you fill out indicate that the #1 reason why people attend Stowe is because a friend of theirs recommended it to them. So please, get on this now while people are in the early stages of planning their summers!

Good luck to anyone completing their indoor track season over the next couple weeks! Please email me with any questions, comments or concerns and thanks for reading.

-Stowe Running Camp Director Fran Cusick